Police warn Bank Holiday drivers after 142 per cent surge in 'extreme' speeding during lockdown

Police have seen a huge spike in speeding despite most people staying at home
PA
Ewan Somerville7 May 2020
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Police have issued a warning to drivers this Bank Holiday weekend after a 142 per cent surge in speeding across London during lockdown.

Officers clocked one car travelling at 163 miles per hour in a 70mph zone.

Scotland Yard recorded 1,656 extreme speeding offences since March 23, against 684 during the same period last year.

Speeds have hiked in all categories from 20 to 70. Cases included a vehicle zooming through a 20mph limit at 73mph and a vehicle doing 110mph in a 30mph zone.

In total more than 4,000 penalties have been issued in the capital during the shut down for breaking the speed limit, despite 40 per cent less traffic on roads.

During the same period, ten fatal crashes have occurred in boroughs.

The Metropolitan Police said most Londoners had followed stay-at-home rules but “a small number of individuals” have instead “used this opportunity to abuse the less congested roads and drive at excess speed and in many cases extreme speeds”.

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Issuing a plea to motorists this weekend, Detective Superintendent Andy Cox said: “To this end I urge everybody to challenge drivers who speed and ask them not to do so; whether that be a family member; friend; work colleague or yourself.

“During these unprecedented times, dealing with road traffic collisions puts a lot of additional, yet avoidable pressure on the NHS and other emergency services, who are working on the frontline 24 hours a day to keep London safe.”

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